NZ VS SL - Only T20I, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2018-19

Southee collects the trophy, and his team-mates waste no time in swarming around and pose for the photographs. Beaming smiles all over. Sri Lanka once again complete a tour without winning a game in the series, and I'm afraid we've said that too often in the recent times. A lot of pondering to do in the limited overs form. New Zealand on the other hand will host India for 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is starting on 23rd January. There's plenty of cricket before that though. Keep visiting this space for all the latest on cricket. Until next time, it's a goodbye from Raju Peethala, Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Hariprasad Sadanandan and our scorer Siva. Cheers!!

Tim Southee, winning skipper: In the position we were after the first 10 overs and then get some runs and bowl the way we did was fantastic. It's great to get a win. Lockie had a great summer so far and Mitch had a great summer last year unfortunately got injured and happy to see him comeback and do well. Easy group of guys and the guys (Scott Kuggeleijn and Doug Bracewell) who haven't played a lot for New Zealand in the recent times to come up the way they did and perform well. It's really nice to see that. Thanks Sri Lanka for all the entertainment and although they haven't won a game, they've played some fantastic cricket.

Malinga, losing skipper: We did well till the 16th over and gave too many runs in the last 4 overs. I still think the target was chasable and I think we didn't get our plans right with the batting. Our bowlers did really well and I'm looking forward for the next couple of months and hopefully the guys will learn a lot from these series. The guys have to understand when to step up and how to win games.

Doug Bracewell, Man of the Match: Good result obviously and nice to get a wicket as well. I have to work on a few things. Scotty was brilliant with the bat and his striking kept us going. Earlier on I was backing myself and enjoyed every bit of it. Pretty happy with my performance and really happy to be among these guys.

21:08 local: Unlike the first innings, where the ball was doing a bit, Sri Lankan batsmen had the tailor-made track to chase down the total of 180. Unfortunately, they once again found ways to gift wickets at the wrong time and allowed New Zealand to take control of the game. Dickwella and Kusal Perera both got off to a blazing start, but both got greedy inside the powerplay and got out in the span of 5 balls. Thisara Perera did display some intent, but he succumbed trying to stay ahead of the required run rate and the rest was made to look like a fomality. Six bowlers were used and all six ticked the wickets colum for New Zealand. Doug Bracewell and Scott Kuggeleijn deserve a lot of credit for this win.

Prashant Bh: Just like the ODIs, SL shows some fight in the middle and then surrenders when it comes to finish.

Prashant Bh: Just like the ODIs, SL shows some fight in the middle and then surrenders when it comes to finish.

Ish Sodhi to Rajitha, out Caught by Seifert!! Big top-edge on the slog and the keeper had all the time in the world to call for it and settle under the skier running backwards. New Zealand clinch this by 35 runs. Rajitha c Seifert b Ish Sodhi 5(9)

Ish Sodhi to Rajitha, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Ish Sodhi to Rajitha, wide, looks to nail this down the ground, but its a legbreak far from off-stump. Wided

Ish Sodhi to Sandakan, 1 run, heaves the full delivery over mid-wicket

Ish Sodhi to Sandakan, no run, floated up on the stumps, nudged into the leg-side

Lakshan Sandakan, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Ish Sodhi to Lahiru Kumara, out Caught by Kuggeleijn!! Googly outside off-stump, Kumara gets carried away and yet again attempts to club one hard, ends up slicing it straight into the bucket hands of Kuggeleijn at backward point. Lahiru Kumara c Kuggeleijn b Ish Sodhi 4(2) [4s-1]

Ish Sodhi to Lahiru Kumara, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Ish Sodhi to Lahiru Kumara, FOUR, jumps down the pitch and smacks him straight, nice clean connection and he's hit it well enough to beat long-on's dive to his right

42 needed from 24

Santner to Rajitha, no run, looks to make some contact with a tentative push, but Santner beats him with some away spin outside off

Lahiru Kumara, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Santner to Malinga, out Caught by Guptill!! Makes room, lines up for a slog and gave it all. Unfortunately no timing on that for the Sri Lankan skipper, Santner slowed the pace and dropped it wide of off, Malinga had to fetch and he could only feed a thick top-edge to wide long-on. Malinga c Guptill b Santner 6(5) [4s-1]

Santner to Malinga, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Santner to Rajitha, 1 run, full on off, Rajitha drills it down to long-on